The Indigenous Law and Policy Center (ILPC) was recognized for its work surrounding advocacy and education with the 2020 SALT M. Shanara Gilbert Human Rights Award in the “Organization” category by the Society of American Law Teachers (SALT). This honor is awarded to a person or institution whose investment in the pursuit of human rights reform deserves great acknowledgment.

Up on the fourth floor, among large lecture halls and faculty offices, students gravitate to the heart of MSU Law’s Indigenous Law Program, the ILPC; for advice or to decompress, a quick snack or food for thought – for community.

The Center’s common room showcases the work of Native artists, an example of its multifaceted approach to social justice work. The 16 vibrant posters that decorate its walls represent each annual Indigenous Law Conference hosted by the ILPC and the Tribal In-House Counsel Association, which has brought a national network of tribal attorneys together at the Law College for over a decade.

Under the leadership of Professors Matthew L.M. Fletcher and Kathryn Fort, the Center’s comprehensive training prepares students to lead in Indian Country and the legal profession.

MSU Law echoes SALT’s high praise of the ILPC – as do its students and graduates.

Quill Box: Prism Lens, by Jenna Wood, member of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians and BFA student in Apparel and Textile Design at MSU.

I am interested in using natural materials and sustainable methods. Prism Lens is made with porcupine quills, birch bark, and sweetgrass. All materials were gathered in Petoskey, MI.